It was late into the autumn night, the very wind itself carrying with it the chill of the coming winter. The castle bedchamber was blocked off from the chilly night by wooden shutters and a heavy curtain that went from ceiling to floor. The only light in the room would normally be provided by the fireplace and two sconces though at the moment none of them were lit. There was a slight hint of light coming under the heavy door's frame however as the hallway outside was lit by torches for the guards to better perform their duty of guarding their lord.
Quarely Mettlelin lay sleeping in his kingly bed next to his wife, the worries of being the ruling lord of Voorhaul not weighing on his mind while he dreamed. His thoughts during the day were troubled enough so the pleasantry of dreams was more than welcome. The sleep he so enjoyed was not to last however.
"My lord!"
The door to the room swung upon suddenly, the light of the hallway filling the room. The male voice that had called out in such a panic was revealed to be the lord's aide Danifein who stood in the doorway clutching a letter. He looked horrified as he looked to the bed and his lord.
Quarely leapt up in his bed with a start, shouting in suprise as he looked around the room frantically. Next to him his wife Belieal also awoke with a fright, looking to her husband for his reaction. It didn't take more than a moment for him to realize there was no immediate danger and he turned angrily to face his aide.
"Damn hell! What is the meaning of this Danifein?"
Danifein looked to the letter and then to his lord laying in bed. "I... Well my lord there was an attack by Pheoa on one of our towns! And- And something else my lord." He paused for a moment to look at the letter. "The news is an emergency sir."
Quarely mumbled to himself in frustration. "Just when I was getting a peaceful nights sleep. I'll be back soon my dear."
"Yes dear." His wife responded.
With his sleep ruined Quarely had no choice but to get out of bed and address whatever emergency had gotten his aide so riled up. Reaching for his robe he quickly dressed himself in it as he slid out of his warm bed. Once he was presentable he walked over to the door and followed Danifein as he stepped aside.
"Lets get this over with."
Danifein walked past the guards posted at the room and down the hallway to the next door. He opened it up and walked inside, quickly lighting the candles inside with one from the wall.
The room itself was rather large, a sort of meeting room for important business. There was a large wooden table with several wooden chairs alongside a couch near the fireplace. The floors and walls were decorated with tapestries and rugs befitting of a lord's castle. There was also a painting of the lord and his wife on the wall across from the two large windows, also blocked with thick curtains.
Quarely walked over to the table and sat down on one of the wooden chairs.
"Alright Danifein read me this letter."
"Of course my lord." Danifein replied.
He then walked over to stand next to the table and lifted the letter to better see in the candlelight.
"Ahem. Its from the Duke of Vemdelen. It reads:
I Hernan Ulbe, Duke of Vemdelen, am grieved to pass on such terrible news. The town of Vemdelen has been attacked by an army from the kingdom of Pheoa in an unprovoked act of aggression. Their troops were able to partially sack the town and kill many of the guards and citizens. Thankfully while the damage and injury would have been catastrophic they were both alleviated by another force that arrived during the attack.
You might think me mad and make moves to remove me from my duties but I urge you to believe I am speaking the full truth in this matter. A goddess has appeared in Vemdelen! A real and powerful goddess like the stories of old! She looked no older than a small child, yet she spoke with the mannerisms of an adult and wielded power beyond understanding.
It was thanks to this goddess, who calls herself Goddess Jenna, that we were able to fend off the vicious attack of the Pheoans. She was able to stop the major fires and heal all those that had yet to die. She even took many prisoners of the enemy army and handed them over to me so that they may be delivered to you for judgment.
What terrible and amazing times we live in! The effects of this goddess's appearance will surely be long reaching and dramatic for the entire kingdom. Will they be for good or ill I can't imagine though I worry for our very way of life. Should my lord wish to investigate himself the goddess said that she lives in the village of Doovlin in the Teforh Forest.
May this news greet you in better spirits than writing it has left me."
Danifein finished reading and looked to his lord. "My lord?"
Quarely was sitting with his hands over his head, looking face down at the table with his elbows propping his body up. His fingers were gripping into his hair and it was clear he was under duress.
"Give me a moment."
His aide nodded in silence and allowed him to collect his thoughts.
Finally after what seemed like a minute he sat up in his chair and lowered his hands to the table. He made a fist with his right and slammed it down into the wood in frustration.
"Dammit all! That's the second person who's gone mad with the appearance of a goddess! Hernan is so obsessed with keeping his title he would never make such insane claims without due cause. Has a goddess truly appeared in our province?"
"I-I don't know sir." Danifein replied shyly.
"Then there's those Pheoan dogs! Why did they have to send an attacking force now of all times? Did they somehow know our defenses were weakened?"
Quarely moved his hands below his chin and arched his fingers together, lowering his elbows to the table and propping up his head with them.
"No. If this goddess claim is true perhaps our defenses aren't as weak as we believe. If she were to appear and defend one of our towns she must have done it for a reason. Even if it was simply to make us worship her if the stories are to be believed that's something we can use. Goddesses can be bargained with."
He looked up to his aide.
"Send for the head court wizard Ferherlyn. He is the only one I can trust with this investigation. In addition his ability to swiftly fly will allow him to travel to Doovlin and back within a single day. I will meet him in this very room in the morning."
Danifein bowed deeply. "Of course my lord. I shall leave the letter here with you and go call for him immediately."
"Do so. And tell no one of this."
Quarely watched his aide put the letter down on the table and leave the room in a hurry. He then reached for the letter and read it over himself. Despite the magnitude of the news he trusted his aide to truthfully read news to him and the fact he didn't demand it before now was proof of that trust. This was simply too much for him to accept and he had waited until now to look himself out of respect for Danifein.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Indeed the letter read exactly as it was read to him. The signature on the bottom was the duke's handwriting. He put the letter on the table and held one hand to his head. What madness was the world coming to? War was brewing already and now a young goddess had appeared out of the aether to torment him with the world shaking consequences.
"If the gods do still hold sway over this world this is but another cruel joke."
He stood up and walked to the cabinet in the corner of the room. Once opened there was revealed some cups and bottles of wine. Though late night drinking was normally not his thing he needed it tonight. He quickly poured himself a cup and drank it all in one draft.
"Damn it all. Why did it have to be my lands?"
After his drink he refilled his cup and placed the bottle back on the shelf. He then walked back to his room while sipping on it. The guards gave him a look when he entered his room but they said nothing. How much had they heard he wondered? It was no matter. Soon everything they thought they knew about the world would change.
"What was the news?" his wife asked from the bed.
Quarely finished his cup of wine and placed it on the nearby table.
"Brewing war with Pheoa. And other things."
He didn't feel it wise to even tell his wife of the goddess development. In due time the secret would be impossible to keep throughout the kingdom and beyond, but for now he hoped to keep it under as much secrecy as possible. Mass public panic was likely if it got out before the goddess could be negotiated with.
"Nothing can be done about it for tonight. Let us try to get what rest we can."
"If you say so." His wife replied.
With a great sigh he returned to bed, sliding under the blankets and looking up at the ceiling, sleep the furthest thing from him tonight. He looked to his wife who was already drifting off to sleep and envied her. While she shared the responsibility of running this province with him she had no idea what weights now rested upon his shoulders. He hoped he wouldn't have to keep this terrible secret for long.
Eventually even his troubled mind allowed him to sleep into the darkness of sleep, the oblivion the only respite against the fears of the waking world.
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Morning came quickly with the light of the dawning sun creeping around the curtains of the lord's bedchamber. Quarely awoke as if by some outside force, though it was likely his own mind forcing the urgency of the situation he now faced upon him.
Opening his eyes he looked around the room and then at his wife sleeping next to him. Was last night real? It couldn't have been a dream as he remembered it too well. He had called for his head wizard if he remembered correctly, and if that was true he would need to keep the meeting.
Looking once more to his wife he decided to leave her sleeping for now, sliding carefully out of bed and walking across the room to begin getting dressed. The curtains remained closed as to not disturb the woman in bed while he got into his normal attire in the dim light. Once he was ready he walked to the door and opened it.
"Good morning my lord." The guard posted outside said.
"Let my wife sleep." Quarely replied in a hushed tone.
He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him as quietly as possible, both guards giving him room to step into the hall and do so.
"I had called for a meeting with Ferherlyn if I remember correctly."
The guard nodded and gestured to the meeting room. "Yes my lord. The wizard has already arrived and awaits you."
"Thank you. Insure we are not disturbed."
"As you wish my lord."
Quarely then walked down the hallway to the meeting room. He took a deep breath before opening it. How he disliked dealing with magic and mages, it was all so esoteric and beyond his capabilities. He didn't like things he couldn't fully understand.
Once he had prepared himself he opened the door and stepped into the room.
"My lord."
A mellow male voice spoke out from the room. There sitting in the middle of the table in pinkish-white robes was an older man in his fifties. He had long dark auburn auburn hair and brilliant green eyes that stood out on his pale skin. This was the wizard Ferherlyn who was a master of air magic and skilled in divination. His staff was polished wood with a perfectly white stone embedded in the tip with intricate engravings all around it.
"I took the liberty of sending away your aide. Having him frittering about was making even me nervous."
Quarely turned and closed the door before walking over to the table. He then sat down across from the wizard and crossed his arms on the table.
"I take it you've been told why I called you here on such short notice."
Ferherlyn nodded and held up the letter before placing it back on the table.
"I've read your letter and spoken to your aide. Admittedly the panicked explanation I had received in the dead of last night intrigued me so greatly that I rushed here before the sun was fully up. If this letter speaks true, and your previous problem with the overseer of Doovlin holds merit, then this world has become suddenly and dramatically more interesting. Don't you agree Lord Quarely?"
"So he couldn't help himself telling you about the Doovlin incident." Quarely muttered.
"I can't blame the boy." Ferherlyn replied. "Imagine you lived your entire life being told stories of the great and terrible goddesses only to find out one was living in a village in the very province you called home."
He smiled knowingly.
"Oh. I supposed you don't have to imagine do you?"
"Dammit stop your mage wordplay Ferherlyn. Don't you grasp the severity of the situation?"
Ferherlyn sighed and sat back in his chair placing one hand his lap and one around his staff.
"Of course I do Lord Quarely. Can't an older man enjoy a bit of joking now and again? Now what was your plan for dealing with this development?"
Quarely crossed his arms over his stomach and looked out the now open windows.
"At the moment all I wish is to confirm these claims to be true, and if they are, to negotiate with this goddess so that at least she will be on our side in the coming conflict."
He looked back to the wizard.
"From what we know of the old tales goddesses can be reasoned with can they not? Even if it requires all the gold in my treasury, or my undying devotion to worshiping at her feet, I must bring her to my side lest she become an enemy."
Ferherlyn nodded. "So you send me on a mission to scout her intentions and her power. It is true in the days of old when goddesses ruled the world that they were able to be reasoned with, though some more or less than others. If this goddess is as young as they claim than her powers will be undeveloped though still quite formidable I assure you."
He leaned forward in his chair.
"Even if you sent the entire wizard tower at her she would beat us quite handily."
"I'm not looking for conflict with her!" Quarely said slamming his hands on the table. "I ask of you, no I beg of you my friend, negotiate peace with this Jenna goddess."
Quarely then paused and sat back in his chair, his hands falling to his lap.
"Something the matter?" Ferherlyn asked.
"I thought of something. I must be the one to negotiate with this goddess."
"Are you sure that's wise my lord? Do you plan on bringing her into the castle to sit down and have a chat over tea?"
"Of course I'm not so stupid." Quarely replied with a huff. "Though I do want you to bring her to this city. I shall talk to her outside the walls."
Ferherlyn leaned forward in his chair with his hand under his chin. "An interesting plan, though a dangerous one."
"I understand the risks involved. In my eyes its simply speeding up the inevitable. This goddess will arrive at my city gates sooner rather than later regardless of what I do. Should I invite her here under good terms the token of goodwill should certainly make her more agreeable to our cause. She healed the wounded and put out fires in Vemdelen, even going so far as handing over prisoners for us to judge by our laws. It is clear to me that this goddess is at least more aligned with good than evil and thus should be reasonably safe to bring to our city. We would have to prepare the public of course."
"Of course" the wizard replied. "So I should leave for Doovlin immediately I suppose?"
"If you will. Bring back the goddess at the earliest possible, within the day if she agrees. This very day I shall arrange an emergency council meeting and I will make the preparations for the public announcement as soon as our conversation is finished."
With the plan settled both men stood up from the table, a slight wind from the window ruffling the letter on the table where it sat in the dust laden sunbeams. Both men understood the the urgency and risks involved with this plan, though they also knew they had precious little choice. What would transpire in the next few days would change much about the world they lived in.
"Very well my friend." Ferherlyn said as he walked to the door. "I shall depart on my mission. I pray for heaven's blessing upon both of us in this matter."
Quarely nodded and watched the wizard open the door and leave. "Be safe."
He was left once again in an empty room. There would be no indulging in wine this time. There would need to be a public speech today, by midday at the latest he felt. He began to pace the room, forming his speech and turning it over in his mind. What would the reaction be of his advisors? They would too would surely see the necessity of this action. This was historically unprecedented and needed to be handled with the utmost care. How would the people react to this news? How would the king react to it?
The king! He chastised himself for being so foolish! Of course he would to notify the king of this news as well. But for now he would wait. The king would find out after this meeting was said and done, for then he could deliver purely good news to the king.
He walked to the window and looked outside to the deep blue sky of morning, saying a silent prayer to the heavens to help him navigate these times.